Saturday, 4 June 2016

The Village Green Preservation Society

I was
going to attend a party political meeting last night but I decided, at the last
minute, to give it a miss. The subject was the argument in favour of Britain
remaining in the EU but, as the referendum draws closer, I become less inclined
to pay attention to what is being said – particularly by politicians who,
whatever their true thoughts on the matter, will always have an underlying
agenda of political manoeuvring which they cannot separate from the core issue.
Besides, my mind – or should I say my heart, for I see no way in which a
rational, balanced judgement can be made on this subject – has been clear from
the start: I would like us to remain.

The
problem is that the factors which sway one’s decision on this vote are not
common to everyone. When someone claims “it is in Britain’s best interests” what
exactly do they mean? If they are referring to the economic health of the
country they might consider that, as the fifth richest nation in the world, our
problem is not so much the accumulation of more wealth as the uneven
distribution of what we already have: a vote for more of the same would be in
the interests of the minority, not the majority, of the nation’s people. The
term “Britain’s
best interests” is too general - too jingoistic - to be meaningful. The definition needs to
include everyone which, ultimately, means our neighbours as well. Our best
interests are only truly served in a world-wide context of increasing peace,
prosperity, education, cultural enrichment and environmental custodianship.
Pulling up the drawbridge and disengaging from other nations will not make us
masters of our own destiny; it is more likely to make us victims of
circumstance. What is in Britain’s best interests, ultimately, is the
well-being of all nations.

But
the siren voices of persuaders on both sides seek to win their arguments by
playing on our fears: they identify individual concerns and present them as
consequences which can be resolved by a simple “yes” or “no” vote. For example,
communities which have been disrupted by immigration have cause to be
concerned, but communities will always be disrupted by one thing or another:
they cannot remain static if there is to be progress. The decline of heavy
industries is a much bigger factor in this respect. And those who complain that
workers from abroad are taking their jobs might remember Auf Wiedersein, Pet, the popular 1970s TV programme
featuring Brits who were obliged to find work in Germany. The free movement of
labour works both ways: it started when the Romans brought craftsmen to Britain
to build their forts and villas and continues with those who take the Eurostar
train, crossing international borders to work where there is demand for their
skills.

Immigration
also introduces cultural diversity. Whether this is a good thing or not depends
upon whether you view elements of other cultures as having potential to enrich
what we already have. And since what we already have – and have had for
milennia – is an evolving pot-pourri of traditions, then adding a few more ingredients
to what has developed as a robust and distinctively British mix is merely a
continuation of the process. Of course anyone wishing to halt progress on this
front may try their luck at The
Village Green Preservation Society.

And
so, prior to casting one’s vote, it is important to dispel one’s fears, whether
they be economic disaster, cultural displacement, Vladimir Putin or Recep
Erdogan. For as the philosopher Bertrand Russell observed: "Neither a man
nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely
under the influence of great fear".

1 comment:

Muswell Hillbillies those picture book, celluloid heroes, tired of waiting (for you), come on now, come dancing and see my friends, do you remember Walter, Mr Pleasant, of the Village green preservation society, long tall shorty, apeman, Louie, Louie, Beautiful Delilah, Victoria and Dandy a dedicated follower of fashion, give the people what they want, better things not too much monkey business, don’t forget to dance with that bald headed woman, do it again, all day and all of the night until the death of a clown.

See my friend, I’ve been driving on bald mountain one sunny afternoon on a gallon of gas looking for that Waterloo sunset, I took my baby home, Lola, in my Cadillac to dead end street, you really got me, so mystifying in a state of confusion, stop you sobbing, no revenge, I’m a lover not a fighter, just cant go to sleep, set me free, I’m not like everyone else, got love if you want it, till the end of the day.